FAQs

Here are some common questions about The BankLink Service. Clicking on a question will take you to the answer.

General Questions

Questions Relating to Software Usage

What sort of hardware do I need to run BankLink Practice?

All workstations and stand-alone PCs must be capable of running a 32-bit operating system such as Windows 98, 2000, XP or Vista.

Which version of Windows is BankLink Practice or BankLink Books compatible with?

BankLink Practice and BankLink Books are supported as follows:

  • Windows Vista
 - BankLink 2007 or above 
  • Windows 98 to XP
 - BankLink 5.1.964 or above   

Which version of Windows is BankLink Workflow Manager compatible with?

BankLink Workflow Manager is supported as follows:

  • Windows 2000 to Vista
 - BankLink Workflow Manager Version 6 or above 

Do I need IT support to run BankLink Practice?

No. Once up and running we can help you service the software and provide ongoing support via our help desk on 0800 226 554 or by e-mail. If you have staff changes we can provide the necessary training to up-skill them. We also offer on-site training sessions to keep your practice abreast of all the new software developments.

How many users can access BankLink Practice?

As few or as many as you need, there are no restrictions on the number of users at a practice. The software licence is not a "per user" arrangement, so there are no extra costs involved in having multiple users.

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How long does it take to install BankLink Practice and then get up and running?

Installation is very fast. It can be achieved in half an hour. Future upgrades can be downloaded automatically from the Internet. We alert you to upgrades on our website and by e-mail or fax. Becoming familiar with our software will take a short time. Usually within days of their first data download, many accountants are up and running. Remember, our dedicated Support Team will be handholding you through this learning phase. We are always only a free phone call away.

How do I receive client data from BankLink?

Most practices receive their data using the BankLink Secure option within the software. BankLink Secure uses the latest 128-bit encryption technology to guarantee secure data transfer across the Internet. There are a few practices without suitable Internet access to which we still courier a floppy disk. The client data on these disks is also encrypted.

Who has access to the client data at my practice?

When you download transactions at your practice, the client data is potentially available to all staff. However, you can restrict the use of BankLink Practice to particular staff members. Access may be further restricted by password protecting individual client files and/or bank accounts.

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How much will The BankLink Service cost me?

There is no initial charge for the BankLink software or any charge for the ongoing software upgrades. You pay a small monthly fee plus a one-off registration charge per account. The total cost of The BankLink Service depends on the number of accounts the practice loads and the number of transactions in each account. For full charges details contact BankLink on 0800 226 554.

How do I sell the BankLink concept to my clients?

Many practices have told us that their clients love BankLink. Clients are sold on the fact that there are no more complicated cashbooks. All they have to do is complete a coding report and return it to the practice. The stress of account preparation and GST compliance is taken away. Clients are left with time to concentrate on what they do best - run their own business. In order to convey the BankLink concept to their clients some practices have written letters, ran seminars or made individual visits. Please contact our Sales department if you would like some help selling BankLink to your clients.

How should I charge my customers for The BankLink Service?

All BankLink charges are invoiced to the accounting practice. We do not invoice your clients directly. How you then charge your clients is up to you. We have found that some practices absorb our charges. They say that the time savings experienced with BankLink far outweigh the small cost, making compliance accounting far more profitable. Other practices have told us that they pass on our monthly charges to their clients to highlight how cost effective The BankLink Service really is. The average monthly charge for BankLink ($5-10) is far less than the cost of staff members keying in data manually from a client's bank statement.

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How do I sell the BankLink concept to my staff?

It has been our experience that some staff can at first feel a little threatened by the efficiencies that BankLink provides a practice. This is especially true of practices with large pools of data entry staff. However, when they see that BankLink does away with the drudgery of data collection and processing and leaves them with more time for coding and report preparation many become keen advocates.

 

How do I register a copy of BankLink InvoicePlus or BankLink PayablesPlus?

When your clients install InvoicePlus or PayablesPlus, they are prompted to enter a Registration Key.  Your practice will need to obtain a Registration Key on behalf of each client. To obtain a Registration Key, click here.

How do I activate a copy of BankLink InvoicePlus or BankLink PayablesPlus?

When your clients install InvoicePlus or PayablesPlus they are prompted to register and activate the software. Your practice supplies a Registration Key which they enter - they are then prompted to activate the software.  They can activate from within the software, but you can obtain an Activation Key for them if they don't have Internet access. To do this, please click here. 

Where is the BankLink Practice software installed on my network?

In BankLink Practice, click Help, About.  The BankLink Practice folder path is displayed at the bottom of the About window, e.g. "BankLink Practice is using F:\BK5". During installation the BankLink Practice folder is labelled BK5 by default, however, it may be re-named.

How do I add labels to the toolbar buttons in BankLink Practice?

In BankLink Practice, click File, Preferences and enable the Show Caption on Toolbar Buttons check box.  New users should also enable the Show Hints on Screens, Fields and Buttons check box and the Show Hints next to Chart Codes in Code Entries Screen check box. This prompts BankLink Practice to provide some helpful hints while you are using the software.

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To which printer are BankLink Practice reports sent?

BankLink Practice uses your Windows default printer, though you can override this as part of the report's print setup.

How do I change the printer to which reports are sent?

You can change your Windows default printer on your workstation. This will send all of your reports to a new printer.

Alternatively, if you want to print a report from BankLink Practice using a printer other than the default, follow these steps. In BankLink Practice:

How do I produce a cash flow report?

In our software, click Reports, Cash Flow Reports, Custom and complete the appropriate fields.  The BankLink Practice Guide will be a great help. BankLink Practice can produce a cash flow report on the completion of coding without any set up being required. However, by assigning Report Groups you can customise the layout to suit your requirements. BankLink Practice can also produce profit and loss and balance sheet reports.

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Can I extract data from BankLink Practice that is not within the current financial year?

Yes, any of the transactions in the Code Entries Screen can be extracted. The financial year entered via Other Functions, Client Details is only used to set the current year for reporting purposes.

If I have extracted data for a period and then discover a coding error, can I correct the error in BankLink Practice and extract the data again?

Yes, this is possible but first you must remove the transfer flags -

If I have extracted a journal, which is incorrect, can I make corrections and extract it again?

Yes, no problem! Just follow the steps below:

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